Mind the gap!

30 January 2013
627

R. Linda:

The news is out! After 33 years of not being adventurous, the Prince and Duchess of Cornwall decided to go slumming on the Underground (subway to you). Can you believe it? Such a royally quaint idea! I had to get photos of this just to prove this be no spicy food dream I had. See for yourself.

 

"Blimey, I swiped me own card I did."

I had to wonder at this, mingling with the masses on the tubes of all things! And why when you have a fleet of limousines at your disposal, not to mention horse-drawn coaches and a prime collection of antique Jaguars would you go slumming on the dirty trains? Boggles me mind. Whose idea was this anyway?

Was it a rainy night with not much to do in the household? The Prince and Duchess staring at each other over the tenth cup of tea and feeling like life was just dripping by waiting for the Queen to die or abdicate like Beatrice of Holland? Well, that's not going to happen, not either one because the Queen will live way beyond 100 as did Queen Mum and abdicate? That word is decidedly NOT in the Queen's royal dictionary! So what to do while one waits? I know Camilla probably said, "Let's go ride the underground and rub elbows with the commoners!" After all, she had been reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, and the idea of Platform 9 3/4 must have seemed tempting to say the least!

"Capital idea, a brilliant change of pace, rightho!" Bonny Prince Charley said placing the book he was pretending to read (Underground London: Travels Beneath the City Streets) on the table. "Is it not the 150th anniversary of the London Underground? I smell photo op among the little people."

"Here Charles, let me get a map and we'll plan our excursion. Do let us get Platform 9 3/4 in." And Camilla ran to a map chest and got out some hoary old paper and spread it on the floor since neither one of them knew how to clear the tea things off the table. Pillows were thrown down for the comfort of the royal behinds and Charles drew out his Mont Blanc pen all set to trace a line from Palace to Underground.

"Oh where shall we get on and where shall we get off, I wonder." Camilla pondered as Charles took up the reins (no pun intended) and declared, "Farringdon Station to King's Cross! That's Harry's route."

"YES, YES, YES!" Camilla clapped her hands together as Charles drew a line on the map. Hurriedly they got their coats and footman, and off they went. I'm sad to say they did not walk the distance and mingle with the sidewalk common folk, no indeed, they jumped in one of their private motors and tooled off to the Metro line, footman and security persons in tow.

Once there, there was a bit of confusion because Mrs. Prince Charles did not want to be riding in just any train, she wanted the new classy train with the walk-through and AC. Of course, why one would need AC in January is anyone's guess, but just to say you have it I reckon was enough.

Is it me or do they look a wee bit uncomfortable? Like they know they shouldn't be there, perhaps a bit self-conscious? Hurts like a toothache doesn't it Charlie?

The journey was a short three minutes. I suppose the commoners wanted on and well, the royals had to give it up and go home, thus the shortness to the adventure, or maybe because they are both so old they needed to get back to the stable, I mean palace.

Camilla gets to see Harry Potter's luggage up close and personal. Maybe that will make finishing the book easier now that she can visualise Platform 9 3/4.

Once back at the palace, Charles reminisced about the time 33 years past when he took the underground and was let to drive the train! I guess he had a note from his mummy saying, "HUMOUR HIM HE'S THE PRINCE and he's not going to be King for a very long time, so .  . . "

"Did you see how I swiped my card like I knew what I was doing?" Bonny Charlie asked Camilla.

"Oh yes dear, you swiped it with such panache I was impressed enough to want to try swiping a card at Harrods next! What you think?" Camilla said passing the hand sanitiser to her bonny prince.

"Wonderful idea, I'll mark that down," and with his very expensive pen he wrote, "Next adventure Camilla gets to swipe card at Harrods."

We can all dream, can't we?

Gabe
Copyright © 2013 All rights reserved